Driving guides/Hand signals for driving
Hand signals for driving
Drivers give hand signals with the left arm out of the driver's window: arm straight out for a left turn, forearm bent up for a right turn, and arm pointing down to slow or stop.
Permit tests ask you to match each arm position to its meaning, and which arm a driver uses. The three signals below are the ones every manual teaches.
The three signals
| Signal | How to give it | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Left arm straight out | Arm and hand extended horizontally out of the driver's window. | Left turn |
| Left arm bent up | Arm out the window, forearm and hand pointing straight up, palm forward. | Right turn |
| Left arm pointing down | Arm out the window, hand and arm pointing down, palm facing back. | Slowing or stopping |
When to use them
Flashing turn signals are a legal substitute for hand signals, and at night they are far easier to see. North Carolina's handbook notes that sunlight on the lenses in the late afternoon and early morning can make a flashing signal hard to read, so use whichever signal you think will be seen best.
Give any signal early. New York's manual requires a turn signal or a hand-and-arm signal at least 100 feet before a lane change, and North Carolina's handbook says to signal at least the last 100 feet before a turn.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up the left-arm-up signal. The arm bent upward means a right turn, not a left turn.
- Signalling too late. Other drivers cannot react to a signal that starts as you turn.
- Leaving the signal on after the turn. Bring your arm back in and return both hands to the wheel.
Related road signs
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Common questions
Extend your left arm straight out of the driver's window, with the hand pointing out to the left.
Put your left arm out of the window and bend it at the elbow so your forearm and hand point straight up, palm forward.
Put your left arm out of the window and point your arm and hand downward, palm facing back.
No. Flashing turn signals are a legal substitute. A hand signal is the fallback when your lights are broken or hard to see.
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Sources, checked 2026-10-08: North Carolina Driver Handbook; Washington Driver Guide (2025); New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21). Written in our own words; follow your state’s manual for the exact wording and numbers.